Referral to a dementia specialist

Dementia can be difficult to diagnose, especially if your symptoms are mild.

If your GP is unsure about your diagnosis, they'll refer you to a specialist, such as:

a psychiatrist with experience of treating dementia (usually called an old age psychiatrist)

an elderly care physician (sometimes called a geriatrician)

a neurologist (an expert in treating conditions that affect the brain and nervous system)

The specialist may be based in a memory clinic alongside other professionals who are experts in diagnosing, caring for and advising people with dementia, and their families.

It's important to make good use of your consultation with the specialist. Write down questions you want to ask, make a note of any medical terms the doctor might use, and ask if you can come back if you think of any more questions. Taking the opportunity to go back can be very helpful.

The specialist may want to organise further tests, which may include brain scans such as a CT scan, or preferably an MRI scan.

A further, more detailed memory test is also likely to be carried out.

If they're still not certain about the diagnosis, you may need to have further, more complex, tests. But most cases of dementia can be diagnosed with the above assessments.

If the diagnosis is dementia

Once you've had the necessary tests (or sometimes before the tests), your doctor should ask if you want to know your diagnosis.

They should explain what having dementia might mean for you and should give you time to talk more about the condition and ask any questions you have.

Unless you decide otherwise, your doctor or a member of their team should explain to you and your family:

the type of dementia you have or, if it's not clear, what the plan to investigate further will involve. Sometimes, despite investigations, a diagnosis may not be clear, in which case the doctors will reassess you again after a period of time

details about symptoms and how the illness might develop

appropriate treatments you might be offered

the name of a health or social care person who will coordinate the different kinds of support you need

care and support services in your area

support groups and voluntary organisations for people with dementia and their families and carers

advocacy services

advice about continuing to drive or your employment if this applies to you

where you can find financial and legal advice

You should also be given written information about dementia.

Ongoing dementia assessment

Once you've been given a diagnosis, your GP should arrange to see you from time to time to see how you're managing.

The memory service where you were assessed may also continue to see you in the early stages.

The GP and the specialist may also jointly prescribe medications that may be helpful in treating some of the symptoms of dementia. But not everybody will benefit from these drugs.